Electronic device with millimeter wave ranging capability

Abstract

The present invention is entitled "Electronic Device with Millimeter-Wave Ranging Capability." The invention provides an electronic device, such as a watch, which may be equipped with a phased-array antenna for transmitting a first signal at a first frequency between 10 GHz and 300 GHz and a non-millimeter-wave antenna for transmitting a second signal at a second frequency below 10 GHz. The device may include a conductive housing sidewall and a display. Conductive structures in the display and the conductive housing sidewall may define a slot element in the non-millimeter-wave antenna. The phased-array antenna may be mounted within the slot element, aligned with a spatial filter in the display, or aligned with a dielectric window in the conductive housing sidewall. Control circuitry may process the signal transmitted by the phased-array antenna array and the reflected version of the transmitted signal received by the phased-array antenna array to detect the range between the device and an external object.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 901,564, filed February 21, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Related application citation

[0003] This application is a divisional application of Chinese national application number 201910135326.8, filed on February 20, 2019, entitled "Electronic device with millimeter-wave ranging capability". Background Technology

[0004] This invention relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly to electronic devices having wireless communication circuitry.

[0005] Electronic devices typically include wireless communication circuitry. For example, cellular phones, computers, and other devices often contain antennas and wireless transceivers to support wireless communication.

[0006] It may be desirable to support wireless communication in the millimeter-wave and centimeter-wave communication bands. Millimeter-wave communication (sometimes referred to as extremely high frequency (EHF) communication) and centimeter-wave communication involve frequencies of approximately 10-300 GHz. Operation at these frequencies can support high bandwidth, but can present significant challenges. For example, millimeter-wave communication signals generated by antennas are characterized by substantial attenuation and / or distortion during signal propagation through various media.

[0007] Therefore, there is a desire to provide improved wireless communication circuits for electronic devices, such as communication circuits that support millimeter and centimeter wave communication. Summary of the Invention

[0008] This invention discloses an electronic device, such as a watch, that can be equipped with wireless circuitry. The wireless circuitry may include an antenna arranged in a phased antenna array for transmitting a first radio frequency signal (e.g., a millimeter-wave signal at a millimeter-wave frequency) at a first frequency between 10 GHz and 300 GHz. The wireless circuitry may also include a non-millimeter-wave antenna for transmitting a second radio frequency signal at a second frequency below 10 GHz.

[0009] Electronic devices may include conductive housing sidewalls and a touchscreen display mounted to the conductive housing sidewalls. The touchscreen display may display images and collect touch input. The touchscreen display may include a display overlay and a display module. Conductive structures in the display module and the conductive housing sidewalls may define slot elements in non-millimeter-wave antennas.

[0010] In one suitable arrangement, a phased antenna array may be mounted within a slot element of a non-millimeter-wave antenna for transmitting a first radio frequency signal at a first frequency through the display overlay. If desired, a spatial filter, such as a frequency-selective surface, may be formed in the conductive structure of the display module. The spatial filter may have a passband including the first frequency. In another suitable arrangement, the phased antenna array may be mounted below the display module and may transmit the first radio frequency signal at the first frequency through the display module via the spatial filter. If desired, a dielectric window may be formed in a conductive housing sidewall. In another suitable arrangement, the phased antenna array may be aligned with the dielectric window and may transmit the first radio frequency signal at the first frequency through the dielectric window.

[0011] If needed, the control circuitry in the electronic device can perform spatial ranging operations on an external object using a phased antenna array and a first radio frequency signal. For example, the control circuitry can control millimeter-wave circuitry coupled to the phased antenna array to transmit a millimeter-wave ranging signal (e.g., transmitting a radio frequency signal with a predetermined pulse sequence at a first frequency based on a ranging or object detection protocol). The phased antenna array can receive a reflected version of the transmitted millimeter-wave ranging signal reflected from an external object near the electronic device. The control circuitry can process the transmitted millimeter-wave ranging signal and the reflected version of the transmitted millimeter-wave ranging signal received by the phased antenna array to detect the range between the electronic device and an external object near the electronic device. The electronic device may include sensor circuitry for collecting sensor data. If needed, the control circuitry can identify a predetermined spatial event based on the detected range and sensor data. In response to identifying the predetermined spatial event, the control circuitry can control the electronic device to issue a notification or alarm to the user (wearer) and / or other persons or entities of the electronic device 10. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an exemplary electronic device with wireless communication circuitry according to an implementation scheme.

[0013] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an exemplary electronic device with wireless communication circuitry according to an implementation scheme.

[0014] Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating an exemplary transceiver and antenna according to the implementation scheme.

[0015] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of an exemplary slot antenna for processing non-millimeter-wave communications according to an implementation scheme.

[0016] Figure 5 This is an illustration of an exemplary phased antenna array that can be adjusted using control circuitry to guide a beam of millimeter or centimeter wave signals according to an implementation scheme.

[0017] Figure 6 The circuit diagram is an exemplary wireless circuit that can perform spatial ranging operations using millimeter and centimeter wave signals and phased antenna arrays according to the implementation scheme.

[0018] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of an exemplary phased antenna array that can be used to perform spatial ranging operations using millimeter and centimeter wave signals, according to an implementation scheme.

[0019] Figure 8 and Figure 9 In accordance with the implementation plan Figure 7 The side view of the exemplary phased antenna array of the type shown includes an exemplary radiation pattern envelope associated with the phased antenna array.

[0020] Figure 10 This is a top view of an electronic device according to an embodiment, illustrating how a slot antenna for processing non-millimeter-wave communications and a phased antenna array for performing spatial ranging operations using millimeter- and centimeter-wave signals can be integrated within the electronic device.

[0021] Figure 11 In accordance with the implementation plan Figure 10 The image shows a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary electronic device of the type shown, illustrating different possible locations for forming a phased antenna array within the electronic device.

[0022] Figure 12 To be usable by electronic devices according to the implementation plan. Figures 5 to 11 The flowchart illustrates the exemplary steps of using a phased antenna array of the type shown to perform spatial ranging operations.

[0023] Figure 13 As shown in the implementation plan Figures 1 to 11 The diagram illustrates how an exemplary electronic device of the type shown might issue an alarm in response to spatial ranging operations performed using phased antenna arrays and millimeter-wave and centimeter-wave signals. Detailed Implementation

[0024] Electronic devices such as Figure 1 The electronic device 10 may include wireless circuitry. The wireless circuitry may include one or more antennas. The antennas may include a phased antenna array for processing millimeter-wave and centimeter-wave communications. Millimeter-wave communications (sometimes referred to as extremely high frequency (EHF) communications) involve signals at frequencies between 60 GHz and approximately 30 GHz and 300 GHz. Centimeter-wave communications involve signals at frequencies between approximately 10 GHz and 30 GHz.

[0025] The antenna may also include a dedicated antenna for handling radio frequency communications at frequencies below centimeter wave frequencies (e.g., signals with frequencies less than 10 GHz). Antennas for handling radio frequency communications at these frequencies may include cellular telephone antennas, wireless local area network (WLAN) antennas, and satellite navigation system antennas. These antennas may be formed, for example, by electronic components such as displays, touch sensors, near-field communication antennas, wireless power coils, peripheral antenna resonant elements, and device housing structures. If desired, device 10 may also include wireless communication circuitry for handling satellite navigation system signals, cellular telephone signals, WLAN signals, near-field communication, light-based wireless communication, or other wireless communication.

[0026] Electronic device 10 can be a computing device such as a laptop computer, a computer monitor containing an embedded computer, a tablet computer, a cellular phone, a media player, or other handheld or portable electronic device, a smaller device (such as a watch), a hanging device, a headset or handset device, a device embedded in glasses or other devices worn on a user's head, or other wearable or micro-devices, a television set, a computer monitor not containing an embedded computer, a gaming device, a navigation device, an embedded system (such as a system in which an electronic device with a display is installed in a kiosk or a car), a device that performs two or more of the functions of these devices, or other electronic devices. Figure 1 In the exemplary configuration, device 10 is a portable device such as a watch (e.g., a smartwatch). Other configurations may be used for device 10 if desired. Figure 1 The examples are merely illustrative.

[0027] exist Figure 1 In the example, device 10 includes a display such as display 14. Display 14 may be mounted in a housing such as housing 12. Housing 12 (sometimes referred to as a shell or enclosure) may be formed of plastic, glass, ceramic, fiber composite material, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), other suitable materials, or any combination of two or more of these materials. Housing 12 may be formed using a monolithic construction (where part or all of housing 12 is machined or molded into a single structure), or it may be formed using multiple structures (e.g., an internal frame structure, one or more structures forming the surface of the outer housing, etc.). Housing 12 may have metallic sidewalls, such as sidewall 12W, or sidewalls formed of other materials. Examples of metallic materials that may be used to form sidewall 12W include stainless steel, aluminum, silver, gold, metal alloys, or any other desired conductive material. Sidewall 12W may be referred to herein as housing sidewall 12W or conductive housing sidewall 12W.

[0028] Display 14 may be formed on the front side (front face) of device 10. Housing 12 may have a rear housing wall, such as a rear wall 12R, opposite the front face of device 10. Conductive housing sidewalls 12W may surround the periphery of device 10 (e.g., conductive housing sidewalls 12W may extend around the peripheral edge of device 10). Rear housing wall 12R may be formed of a conductive material and / or a dielectric material. Examples of dielectric materials that can be used to form the rear housing wall 12R include plastics, glass, sapphire, ceramics, wood, polymers, combinations of these materials, or any other desired dielectric. The rear housing wall 12R and / or display 14 may be present along part or all of the length of device 10 (e.g., parallel to...). Figure 1 The conductive housing sidewall 12W may extend along the X-axis and width (e.g., parallel to the Y-axis) of the device 10. The conductive housing sidewall 12W and / or the rear housing wall 12R may form one or more outer surfaces of the device 10 (e.g., user-visible surfaces of the device 10) and / or may be achieved using internal structures that do not form outer surfaces of the device 10 (e.g., conductive or dielectric housing structures not visible to the user of the device 10, such as conductive structures covered with layers (e.g., thin decorative layers, protective coatings, and / or other coatings that may include dielectric materials such as glass, ceramics, or plastics), or other structures that form outer surfaces of the device 10 and / or are used to conceal housing walls 12R and / or 12W from the user's perspective).

[0029] The display 14 may be a touchscreen display incorporating a conductive capacitive touch sensor electrode layer or other touch sensor components (e.g., resistive touch sensor components, acoustic touch sensor components, force-based touch sensor components, light-based touch sensor components, etc.) or may be a non-touchscreen display. The capacitive touchscreen electrodes may be formed from an array of indium tin oxide pads or other transparent conductive structures.

[0030] The display 14 may include a display pixel array formed by liquid crystal display (LCD) components, an electrophoretic display pixel array, a plasma display pixel array, an organic light-emitting diode display pixel array, an electrowetting display pixel array, or display pixels based on other display technologies.

[0031] The display 14 may be protected using a display cover. The display cover may be formed of a transparent material such as glass, plastic, sapphire or other crystalline dielectric material, ceramic or other transparent material. For example, the display cover may extend substantially the entire length and width of the device 10.

[0032] Device 10 may include buttons such as button 18. Any suitable number of buttons may be present in device 10 (e.g., a single button, more than one button, two or more buttons, five or more buttons, etc.). Buttons may be located in openings in housing 12 (e.g., openings in conductive housing sidewall 12W or rear housing wall 12R) or in openings in display 14 (as an example). Buttons may be rotary buttons, sliding buttons, buttons actuated by pressing a movable button member, etc. Button members such as button 18 may be formed of metal, glass, plastic, or other materials. In the case of device 10 being a watch device, button 18 may sometimes be referred to as a crown.

[0033] If needed, device 10 can be coupled to a strap such as strap 15. Strap 15 can be used to hold device 10 on a user's wrist (for example). Strap 15 may sometimes be referred to herein as wristband 15. Figure 1 In the example, the wristband 15 is attached to the opposite side 8 of the device 10. The conductive housing sidewall 12W on the side 8 of the device 10 may include attachment structures for securing the wristband 15 to the housing 12 (e.g., configuring the housing 12 to receive lugs or other attachment mechanisms for the wristband 15). A construction excluding the strap may also be used for the device 10.

[0034] Figure 2 A schematic diagram illustrating exemplary components that can be used in device 10 is shown. Figure 2 As shown, device 10 may include storage and processing circuitry, such as control circuitry 20. Control circuitry 20 may include memory, such as hard disk drive memory, non-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory configured to form a solid-state drive or other electrically programmable read-only memory), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random access memory), etc. The processing circuitry in control circuitry 20 can be used to control the operation of device 10. This processing circuitry may be based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, application-specific integrated circuits, etc.

[0035] Control circuitry 20 can be used to run software on device 10, such as internet browsing applications, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone calling applications, email applications, media playback applications, operating system functions, etc. To support interaction with external devices, control circuitry 20 can be used to implement communication protocols. Communication protocols that can be implemented using control circuitry 20 include Internet Protocol, wireless LAN protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11 protocol, sometimes referred to as...). Protocols for other short-range wireless communication links (such as, Protocols such as WPAN protocols, IEEE 802.11ad protocol, cellular telephone protocols, MIMO protocols, antenna diversity protocols, satellite navigation system protocols, antenna ranging protocols (e.g., radio detection and ranging (RADAR) protocol or other desired range detection protocols for signals transmitted at millimeter and centimeter wave frequencies), etc.

[0036] Device 10 may include input-output circuitry 22. Input-output circuitry 22 may include input-output device 24. Input-output device 24 may be used to allow data to be provided to device 10 and to allow data to be provided from device 10 to external devices. Input-output device 24 may include user interface devices, data port devices, and other input-output components. For example, input-output device 24 may include a touchscreen, a display without touch sensor capability, buttons, scroll wheels, touchpads, keypads, keyboards, microphones, cameras, buttons, speakers, status indicators, light sources, audio jacks and other audio port components, vibrators or other haptic feedback engines, digital data port devices, light sensors (infrared light sensors, visible light sensors, etc.), light-emitting diodes, motion sensors (accelerometers), capacitive sensors, proximity sensors, magnetic sensors, force sensors (e.g., force sensors coupled to a display to detect pressure applied to the display), etc.

[0037] Input-output circuitry 22 may include wireless circuitry 34. Wireless circuitry 34 may include coil 44 and wireless power receiver 26 for receiving power transmitted wirelessly from a wireless power adapter. To support wireless communication, wireless circuitry 34 may include RF transceiver circuitry formed by one or more integrated circuits, power amplifier circuitry, low-noise input amplifiers, passive radio frequency (RF) components, one or more antennas such as antenna 40, transmission lines, and other circuitry for processing RF wireless signals. Light (e.g., infrared communication) may also be used to transmit wireless signals.

[0038] Wireless circuit 34 may include radio frequency transceiver circuitry 42 for handling various radio frequency communication bands. For example, circuit 34 may include transceiver circuits 38, 36, 32, 30, and 28. Transceiver circuitry 36 may be a wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver circuit. Transceiver circuitry 36 can handle various radio frequency communication bands. It supports the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands for (IEEE 802.11) communication or other wireless local area network (WLAN) bands, and can handle the 2.4 GHz band. Communication bands or other wireless personal area network (WPAN) bands.

[0039] Wireless circuit 34 can use cellular telephone transceiver circuit 32 to handle wireless communications in various frequency ranges, such as the low communication band from 600MHz to 960MHz, the mid-frequency band from 1400MHz or 1500MHz to 2170MHz or 2200MHz (e.g., a mid-frequency band with a peak of 1700MHz), and the high-frequency band from 2200MHz or 2300MHz to 2700MHz (e.g., a high-frequency band with a peak of 2400MHz), or other communication bands between 600MHz and 4000MHz or other suitable frequencies (as an example). Circuit 32 can handle voice data and non-voice data.

[0040] Millimeter-wave circuit 28 (sometimes referred to as extremely high frequency (EHF) transceiver circuit 28, transceiver circuit 28, or millimeter-wave transceiver circuit) can support communication at frequencies between approximately 10 GHz and 300 GHz. For example, millimeter-wave circuit 28 can support communication in extremely high frequency (EHF) or millimeter-wave communication bands between approximately 30 GHz and 300 GHz and / or centimeter-wave communication bands (sometimes referred to as ultra-high frequency (SHF) bands) between approximately 10 GHz and 30 GHz. As an example, millimeter-wave circuit 28 can support the IEEE K communication band between approximately 18 GHz and 27 GHz, and the K band between approximately 26.5 GHz and 40 GHz. a Communication in the following frequency bands is permitted: a Ku communication band between approximately 12 GHz and 18 GHz, a V communication band between approximately 40 GHz and 75 GHz, a W communication band between approximately 75 GHz and 110 GHz, or any other desired frequency band between approximately 10 GHz and 300 GHz. If desired, circuit 28 may support IEEE 802.11ad communication in the 60 GHz and / or 5G mobile network or 5G wireless system (5G) communication bands between 27 GHz and 90 GHz. If desired, circuit 28 may support communication in multiple frequency bands between 10 GHz and 300 GHz (e.g., a first band from 27.5 GHz to 28.5 GHz, a second band from 37 GHz to 41 GHz, and a third band from 57 GHz to 71 GHz, or other communication bands between 10 GHz and 300 GHz). Circuit 28 may be formed from one or more integrated circuits (e.g., multiple integrated circuits mounted on a common printed circuit in a system-in-package device, one or more integrated circuits mounted on different substrates, etc.).

[0041] Although circuit 28 is sometimes referred to herein as millimeter-wave circuit 28, millimeter-wave circuit 28 can handle communications in any desired communication band between 10 GHz and 300 GHz (e.g., circuit 28 can transmit and receive radio frequency signals in millimeter-wave and / or centimeter-wave communication bands). In a suitable arrangement, millimeter-wave circuit 28 can use millimeter and / or centimeter-wave signals to perform spatial ranging operations to detect or estimate the range between device 10 and external objects around device 10 (e.g., housing 12 and objects outside device 10, such as the body of a user or other person, animals, furniture, walls, or other objects or obstacles near device 10).

[0042] Wireless circuit 34 may include satellite navigation system circuitry, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver circuitry 38, for receiving 1575 MHz GPS signals or for processing other satellite positioning data (e.g., 1609 MHz GLONASS signals). Receiver 38 receives satellite navigation system signals from a constellation of satellites orbiting the Earth. If desired, wireless circuitry 34 may include circuitry for other short-range and long-range wireless links. For example, wireless circuitry 34 may include circuitry for receiving television and radio signals, a paging system transceiver, Near Field Communication (NFC) transceiver circuitry 46 (e.g., an NFC transceiver operating at 13.56 MHz or another suitable frequency), etc.

[0043] In NFC links, wireless signals are typically transmitted within a few inches at most. In satellite navigation system links, cellular phone links, and other long-range links, wireless signals are typically used to transmit data over thousands of feet or miles. In 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WLAN and WPAN links, as well as other short-range wireless links, wireless signals are typically used to transmit data over tens or hundreds of feet. Millimeter-wave circuitry 28 can transmit signals that travel along the line-of-sight path between the transmitter and receiver (over short distances). To enhance signal reception in millimeter and centimeter-wave communications, phased antenna arrays and beamforming techniques can be used (e.g., schemes that adjust the phase and / or amplitude of the antenna signals of each antenna in the array to perform beamforming). Antenna diversity schemes can also be used to ensure that antennas that are blocked or degraded due to the operating environment of device 10 can be switched off and replaced with higher-performance antennas in their locations.

[0044] Wireless circuit 34 may include antenna 40. Antenna 40 may be formed using any suitable antenna type. For example, antenna 40 may include an antenna having a resonant element formed by: slot antenna structure, loop antenna structure, patch antenna structure, stacked patch antenna structure, antenna structure with parasitic elements, inverted F-shaped antenna structure, planar inverted F-shaped antenna structure, helical antenna structure, monopole antenna, dipole antenna structure, Yagi-Uda antenna structure, surface-integrated waveguide structure, hybrids of these designs, etc. If desired, one or more antennas 40 may be cavity-backed antennas.

[0045] Different types of antennas can be used for different frequency bands and combinations thereof. For example, one type of antenna can be used when forming a local wireless link antenna, while another type of antenna can be used when forming a remote wireless link antenna. If necessary, space within device 10 can be saved by using a single antenna to handle two or more different communication frequency bands. For example, a single antenna 40 in device 10 can be used to handle 2.4 GHz. or Communication frequency band, 1575MHz GPS communication frequency band, 5.0GHz or Communication in the communication frequency band and one or more cellular telephone communication frequency bands (such as the cellular telephone intermediate frequency band between 1500MHz and 2170MHz). A dedicated antenna can be used to receive satellite navigation system signals, or, if needed, antenna 40 can be configured to receive satellite navigation system signals and signals for other communication frequency bands (e.g., wireless LAN signals and / or cellular telephone signals). Antenna 40 can be arranged in a phased antenna array for handling millimeter-wave and centimeter-wave communications.

[0046] It may be desirable to use some electronic components that are not originally used as antennas but support additional device functionality to implement at least some of the antennas in device 10. As an example, it may be desirable to use components such as display 14 ( Figure 1 The induced antenna current in the display 14 allows the display 14 and / or other electronic components (e.g., touch sensors, near-field communication loop antennas, conductive display assemblies or housings, conductive shielding structures, etc.) to be used as antennas for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, cellular frequencies and / or other frequencies without the need to incorporate a bulky antenna structure into the device 10.

[0047] Transmission line paths can be used to route antenna signals (e.g., signals transmitted or received in the air by antenna 40) within device 10. For example, transmission line paths can be used to couple antenna structure 40 to transceiver circuitry 42. Transmission line paths in device 10 may include coaxial cable paths, microstrip transmission lines, stripline transmission lines, edge-coupled microstrip transmission lines, edge-coupled stripline transmission lines, waveguide structures for transmitting signals at millimeter-wave frequencies (e.g., coplanar waveguides or grounded coplanar waveguides), transmission lines formed by combinations of these types of transmission lines, etc.

[0048] If desired, the transmission line paths in device 10 can be integrated into rigid and / or flexible printed circuit boards. In a suitable arrangement, the transmission line paths in device 10 may include transmission line conductors (e.g., signal and ground conductors) integrated within a multilayer laminate (e.g., layers of conductive material (such as copper) and dielectric material (such as resin) laminated together without the intervention of adhesive), which can be folded or bent in multiple dimensions (e.g., two-dimensional or three-dimensional) and retain its bent or folded shape after bending (e.g., the multilayer laminate can be folded into a specific three-dimensional shape to wire around other device components and can have sufficient rigidity to retain its shape after folding without being held in place by reinforcements or other structures). All the multiple layers of the laminate can be laminated together in batches without adhesive (e.g., in a single pressing process) (e.g., the opposite of performing multiple pressing processes to laminate multiple layers together with adhesive). If desired, filter circuitry, switching circuitry, impedance matching circuitry, and other circuitry can be inserted within the transmission lines.

[0049] Device 10 may include multiple antennas 40. These antennas can be used simultaneously, or one antenna can be switched into use while others are switched out of use. If needed, control circuitry 20 can be used to select the optimal antenna for real-time use in device 10 and / or to select optimal settings for the adjustable wireless circuitry associated with one or more antennas 40. Antenna tuning can be performed to tune the antenna to operate within a desired frequency range, to perform beam control using a phased antenna array, and to otherwise optimize antenna performance. If needed, sensors can be incorporated into antenna 40 to collect sensor data in real-time for tuning antenna 40.

[0050] In some configurations, antenna 40 may include an antenna array, such as a phased antenna array that implements beam control functionality. For example, antennas for processing millimeter-wave and centimeter-wave signals from millimeter-wave circuit 28 may be implemented in one or more phased antenna arrays. The radiating elements in the phased antenna array supporting millimeter-wave and centimeter-wave communication may be patch antennas, dipole antennas, Yagi-Uda antennas, or other suitable antennas. If desired, millimeter-wave circuit 28 may be integrated with the phased antenna array to form an integrated phased antenna array and transceiver circuit module or package.

[0051] In devices such as handheld devices, the presence of external objects such as a user's hand, a table, or other surfaces on which the device is located can potentially obstruct wireless signals such as millimeter-wave signals. Furthermore, millimeter-wave communication typically requires a line-of-sight between antenna 40 and an antenna on an external device. Therefore, it may be desirable to combine multiple phased antenna arrays into device 10, each placed at a different location within or on device 10. Using this type of arrangement, an unobstructed phased antenna array can be switched into use, and once switched into use, this phased antenna array can use beam control to optimize wireless performance. Similarly, if a phased antenna array does not face an external device or does not have a line-of-sight with an external device, another phased antenna array that has a line-of-sight with an external device can be switched into use, and this phased antenna array can use beam control to optimize wireless performance. Configurations in which antennas from one or more different locations within device 10 operate together (e.g., to form a phased antenna array, etc.) are also possible.

[0052] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the antenna 40 coupled to the transceiver circuit 42 is shown. Figure 3 As shown, the RF transceiver circuit 42 can be coupled to the antenna feed section 100 of the antenna 40 using transmission line path 64. The antenna feed section 100 may include a positive antenna feed terminal (such as positive antenna feed terminal 96) and a ground antenna feed terminal (such as ground antenna feed terminal 98). The transmission line path 64 may include a positive transmission line signal path (such as path 94 coupled to terminal 96) and a ground transmission line signal path (such as path 92 coupled to terminal 98). The transmission line path 64 may be directly coupled to the antenna resonant element and ground of the antenna 40, or may be coupled to a near-field coupled antenna feed section structure for indirectly feeding the resonant element of the antenna 40.

[0053] Antenna 40 can be implemented using any desired antenna structure. In a suitable arrangement, different antenna structures can be used to implement antenna 40 for transmitting millimeter and centimeter wave signals, rather than antenna 40 for transmitting radio frequency signals at lower frequencies.

[0054] Figure 4An exemplary antenna 40 is shown for transmitting radio frequency signals at frequencies below centimeter and millimeter wave frequencies (e.g., frequencies below 10 GHz). Figure 4 As shown, the antenna 40 in device 10 may include an antenna 40S that processes radio frequency signals at frequencies below 10 GHz. Although the antenna 40S processes frequencies below centimeter and millimeter wave frequencies (i.e., frequencies below 10 GHz), the antenna 40S may sometimes be referred to herein as a non-millimeter wave antenna 40S. The non-millimeter wave antenna 40S may be used, for example, to transmit radio frequency signals in cellular phone, WLAN, WPAN, and / or GPS bands.

[0055] In a suitable arrangement, sometimes described herein as an example, the non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S can be implemented using a slot antenna structure (e.g., the non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S can be a slot antenna and is sometimes referred to herein as slot antenna 40S or non-millimeter-wave slot antenna 40S). This is merely illustrative; in general, any desired antenna structure can be used to implement the non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S.

[0056] like Figure 4 As shown, the non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S may include a conductive structure such as structure 102 with a dielectric opening such as dielectric opening 104. The opening is such as... Figure 4 The opening 104 is sometimes referred to as a slot, a slot antenna resonator, or a slot element. Figure 4 In the construction, the opening 104 is a closed slot because part of the conductive structure 102 completely surrounds and encloses the opening 104. The slot antenna can also be formed in a conductive material such as the conductive structure 102 (e.g., by forming an opening at the right or left end of the conductive structure 102, such that the opening 104 protrudes through the conductive structure 102).

[0057] The antenna feed section 100 of the non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S can be formed using the positive antenna feed terminal 96 and the ground antenna feed terminal 98. Generally, the frequency response of an antenna is related to the size and shape of the conductive structure within the antenna. When the circumference P of the slot is equal to the effective operating wavelength of the antenna (for example, when the circumference P is equal to twice the length L plus twice the width W, and the effective wavelength takes into account dielectric effects related to any dielectric material within the slot 104), the slot antenna, such as... Figure 4The non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S tends to exhibit a peak response. Antenna current can flow between feed terminals 96 and 98 around the perimeter P of the slot 104. As an example, when the slot length L is greater than the slot width W, the length of the non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S will tend to be about half the length of other types of antennas (such as an inverted-F antenna configured to handle signals of the same frequency). Therefore, given the same antenna volume, the non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S will be able to handle signals with frequencies approximately twice that of other antennas (such as an inverted-F antenna).

[0058] The feed section 100 can be coupled to the entire slot 104 at a location between opposite edges 114 and 116. For example, the feed section 100 can be located at a distance 118 from the side 114 of the slot 104. The distance 118 can be adjusted so that the impedance of the non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S is consistent with that of the corresponding transmission line (e.g., Figure 3 The impedance of the transmission line path 64 is matched. For example, the antenna current flowing around the slot 104 may experience zero impedance (e.g., short-circuit impedance) at the edges 114 and 116 of the slot 104 and infinite (open-circuit) impedance at the center of the slot 104 (e.g., at the fundamental frequency of the slot). Position 118 may be located between the center and edge 114 of the slot 104, for example, at a location where the antenna current experiences an impedance that matches the impedance of the corresponding transmission line (e.g., a distance 118 may be between 0 and 1 / 4 of the operating wavelength of the non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S).

[0059] Figure 4 The examples are merely illustrative. Generally, the slit 104 can have any desired shape (e.g., where the perimeter P of the slit 104 defines the radiation characteristics of the non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S). For example, the slit 104 can have a tortuous shape, where different segments extend in different directions, and can have straight and / or curved edges, etc. The conductive structure 102 can be formed of any desired conductive electronic device structure. For example, the conductive structure 102 may include conductive traces on a printed circuit board or other substrate, a sheet of metal, a metal foil, and a display 14 (…). Figure 1 The associated conductive structure, the conductive portion of the housing 12 (e.g., Figure 1 The conductive outer casing sidewall 12W) or other conductive structures within the device 10. In a suitable arrangement, different sides (edges) of the slit 104 may be defined by different conductive structures.

[0060] Because signals with frequencies greater than 10 GHz experience significant air attenuation, antennas 40 in device 10 for handling millimeter and centimeter wave frequencies greater than 10 GHz can be formed within a phased antenna array that implements beam control. Implementing these antennas in a phased antenna array allows the total gain of the millimeter and centimeter wave signals to be greater than that achievable using a single antenna (e.g., due to constructive interference between the individual antennas in the phased antenna array), thus helping to compensate for air attenuation at these frequencies (e.g., the signal gain can be proportional to the number of antennas in the array). Beam control techniques can be used to allow the phased antenna array to cover all angles within its field of view (e.g., because the increased gain associated with using a phased antenna array also narrows the coverage area at any given time).

[0061] Figure 5 This illustrates how an antenna 40 is formed in a phased antenna array for processing radio frequency signals (e.g., millimeter-wave and centimeter-wave signals) with frequencies greater than 10 GHz. Figure 5 As shown, the wireless circuit 34 may include an antenna 40, such as antenna 40M, for processing frequencies greater than 10 GHz. Although antenna 40M typically handles millimeter-wave and / or centimeter-wave signals between 10 GHz and 300 GHz, for simplicity, antenna 40M may sometimes be referred to herein as millimeter-wave antenna 40M.

[0062] like Figure 5 As shown, wireless circuit 34 may include a phased antenna array 124 (sometimes referred to herein as array 124, antenna array 124, or millimeter-wave antenna 40M array 124). The phased antenna array 124 may include N millimeter-wave antennas 40M. The phased antenna array 124 may be coupled to a signal path, such as a transmission line path 64 (e.g., one or more radio frequency transmission lines). For example, a first millimeter-wave antenna 40M-1 in the phased antenna array 124 may be coupled to a first transmission line path 64-1, a second millimeter-wave antenna 40M-2 in the phased antenna array 124 may be coupled to a second transmission line path 64-2, and the Nth millimeter-wave antenna 40M-N in the phased antenna array 124 may be coupled to the Nth transmission line path 64-N, and so on.

[0063] The millimeter-wave antennas 40M in the phased antenna array 124 can be arranged in any desired number of rows and columns or in any other desired pattern (e.g., the antennas do not necessarily have to be arranged in a grid pattern with rows and columns). In a suitable arrangement (sometimes described herein as an example), the phased antenna array 124 is a 1-by-N array of millimeter-wave antennas 40M (e.g., the antennas 40M in the phased antenna array 124 can be arranged in a single row or a single column).

[0064] During signal transmission operation, transmission line path 64 can be used to transfer signals (e.g., radio frequency signals, such as millimeter wave and / or centimeter wave signals) from millimeter wave circuit 28 ( Figure 2 The phased antenna array 124 is provided for wireless transmission to external wireless devices. During signal reception operation, the transmission line path 64 can be used to transmit the signal received at the phased antenna array 124 from the external device to the millimeter-wave circuit 28. Figure 2 ).

[0065] The use of multiple millimeter-wave antennas 40M in the phased antenna array 124 allows for beam control arrangement by controlling the relative phase and magnitude (amplitude) of the radio frequency signals transmitted by the antennas. Figure 5 In the example, each of the millimeter-wave antennas 40M has a corresponding radio frequency phase and magnitude controller 120 (e.g., a first phase and magnitude controller 120-1 inserted on transmission line path 64-1 can control the phase and magnitude of the radio frequency signal processed by the millimeter-wave antenna 40M-1, a second phase and magnitude controller 120-2 inserted on transmission line path 64-2 can control the phase and magnitude of the radio frequency signal processed by the millimeter-wave antenna 40M-2, and an Nth phase and magnitude controller 120-N inserted on transmission line path 64-N can control the phase and magnitude of the radio frequency signal processed by the millimeter-wave antenna 40M-N, etc.).

[0066] Each of the phase and magnitude controllers 120 may include circuitry (e.g., phase shifter circuitry) for adjusting the phase of the radio frequency signal on the transmission line path 64 and / or circuitry (e.g., power amplifier and / or low-noise amplifier circuitry) for adjusting the magnitude of the radio frequency signal on the transmission line path 64. The phase and magnitude controllers 120 are sometimes collectively referred to herein as beam control circuitry (e.g., beam control circuitry for steering the beam of radio frequency signals transmitted and / or received by the phased antenna array 124).

[0067] The phase and magnitude controller 120 is capable of adjusting the relative phase and / or magnitude of the transmitted signals supplied to each antenna in the phased antenna array 124, and is also capable of adjusting the relative phase and / or magnitude of the received signals received by the phased antenna array 124 from external devices. The terms "beam" or "signal beam" may be used herein to refer to wireless signals transmitted and received by the phased antenna array 124 in a particular direction. The term "transmit beam" may sometimes be used herein to refer to wireless radio frequency signals transmitted in a particular direction, while the term "receive beam" may sometimes be used herein to refer to wireless radio frequency signals received from a particular direction.

[0068] For example, if the phase and magnitude controller 120 is adjusted to generate a first set of phase and / or magnitude values ​​for the transmitted millimeter-wave signal, the transmitted signal will form as follows: Figure 5The beam 126 is a millimeter-wave transmission beam oriented in the direction of point A. However, if the phase and magnitude controller 120 is adjusted to generate a second set of phase and / or magnitude values ​​for the transmitted millimeter-wave signal, the transmitted signal will form a millimeter-wave transmission beam oriented in the direction of point B, as shown in beam 128. Similarly, if the phase and magnitude controller 120 is adjusted to generate a first set of phase and / or magnitude values, a wireless signal (e.g., a millimeter-wave signal in a millimeter-wave frequency reception beam) can be received from the direction of point A, as shown in beam 126. If the phase and magnitude controller 120 is adjusted to generate a second set of phase and / or magnitude values, a signal can be received from the direction of point B, as shown in beam 128.

[0069] Each phase and magnitude controller 120 can control based on the control circuit 20 ( Figure 2 The control circuit 20 may receive a corresponding control signal 122 from other control circuits in device 10 to generate the desired phase and / or magnitude values ​​(e.g., control signal 122-1 may be used to control the phase and / or magnitude values ​​provided by phase and magnitude controller 120-1, and control signal 122-2 may be used to control the phase and / or magnitude values ​​provided by phase and magnitude controller 120-2). If necessary, the control circuit 20 may actively adjust the control signal 122 in real time to steer the transmit or receive beam in different desired directions over time.

[0070] When performing millimeter-wave or centimeter-wave communication, radio frequency signals are transmitted through a line-of-sight path between the phased antenna array 60 and the external device. If the external device is located... Figure 5 If the external device is at position A, the phase and magnitude controller 120 can be adjusted to steer the signal beam toward direction A. If the external device is at position B, the phase and magnitude controller 120 can be adjusted to steer the signal beam toward direction B. Figure 5 In the example, for simplicity, beam control is shown as in a single degree of freedom (e.g., towards). Figure 5 (On the left and right sides of the page). However, in practice, the beam is executed in two or more degrees of freedom (e.g., in three dimensions, i.e., in...). Figure 5 (On the page, turn inwards and outwards, and on the page, turn left and right). When performing spatial ranging operations using the phased antenna array 124, the signal beam can be turned in direction A to detect the range between the device 10 and an external object at location A, and the signal beam can be turned in direction B to detect the range between the device 10 and an external object at location B.

[0071] If needed, Figure 2The millimeter-wave circuit 28 can use millimeter-wave communication protocols to perform bidirectional communication with external devices (e.g., external wireless communication devices such as cellular phones, computers, wearable devices, wireless access points, or base stations). When performing bidirectional communication, Figure 2 The millimeter-wave circuit 28 can encode wireless data using millimeter-wave communication protocols, transmit wireless data to external devices at millimeter or centimeter-wave frequencies, receive wireless data transmitted by external devices at millimeter or centimeter-wave frequencies, and decode the received wireless data using millimeter-wave communication protocols. Such millimeter-wave communication protocols may include, for example, the IEEE 802.11ad communication protocol or the fifth-generation wireless system (5G) communication protocol.

[0072] Spatial ranging operations performed by millimeter-wave circuit 28 may involve one-way communication that does not require external communication equipment. For example, spatial ranging operations may include range detection operations, external object detection operations, and / or external object tracking operations. When performing spatial ranging operations, millimeter-wave circuit 28 may use phased antenna array 124 to transmit signals (such as pulse sequences or other predetermined signals) at millimeter or centimeter wave frequencies (e.g., based on RADAR protocols or other range or object detection protocols). Millimeter-wave circuit 28 may then wait to receive a reflected version of the transmitted signal reflected from an external object near device 10 (e.g., within line of sight of device 10). Upon receiving the reflected version of the transmitted signal, millimeter-wave circuit 28 or control circuit 20 ( Figure 2 The transmitted signal (e.g., a pulse sequence in the transmitted signal) can be compared with a reflected version of the received transmitted signal (e.g., a pulse sequence in the received signal) to identify the distance between device 10 and an external object (e.g., based on the time delay between the transmitted and received signals and the known propagation speed of signals in the air, using range or object detection protocols). For example, the pulse sequence can allow millimeter-wave circuitry 28 to identify any given received signal as a reflected version of the transmitted signal rather than some other signal received at device 10 (e.g., because the pulse sequence of the reflected version of the transmitted signal would be the same as a known pulse sequence in the transmitted signal).

[0073] In fact, using Figure 2 The hardware required for millimeter-wave circuit 28 to perform spatial ranging operations is smaller and more resource-intensive than the hardware required to perform bidirectional communication using millimeter-wave circuit 28. This is particularly relevant for relatively small form factor devices, such as device 10 implemented as a watch or other wearable device (e.g., as...). Figure 1As shown and described herein by way of example, there may not be sufficient space within device 10 to form the hardware required for bidirectional communication using millimeter-wave circuit 28. However, there may still be sufficient space within device 10 to allow millimeter-wave circuit 28 to perform spatial ranging operations using one or more phased antenna arrays 124. In another suitable arrangement, even if there is sufficient space within device 10 to form the hardware required for bidirectional communication using millimeter-wave circuit 28, millimeter-wave circuit 28 may include only the hardware required for performing spatial ranging operations, if desired, to save space within device 10 for other components.

[0074] Figure 6 This is a circuit diagram illustrating how wireless circuit 34 can include millimeter-wave circuitry for performing spatial ranging operations. (See diagram below.) Figure 6 As shown, the millimeter-wave circuit 28 can be coupled to the phased antenna array 124 via transmission line path 64. Radio frequency switching circuitry, such as a switch SW, can be inserted into the transmission line path 64 between the millimeter-wave circuit 28 and the phased antenna array 124.

[0075] Millimeter-wave circuit 28 may include a transmitter such as transmitter 146 and a receiver such as receiver 148 (sometimes referred to herein as millimeter-wave transmitter 146 and millimeter-wave receiver 148). Transmitter 146 may be coupled to terminal 142 of switch SW. Receiver 148 may be coupled to terminal 140 of switch SW. Phased antenna array 124 may be coupled to terminal 144 of switch SW. Millimeter-wave circuit 28 may be coupled to control circuit 20 via path 150. Figure 2 ).

[0076] Control circuit 20 can provide control signals to control millimeter-wave circuit 28 to perform spatial ranging operations via path 150. For example, transmitter 146 can generate signals with frequencies greater than 10 GHz, including a predetermined pulse sequence (e.g., based on range or object detection protocols and / or control signals received via path 150). In another suitable arrangement, millimeter-wave circuit 28 may include baseband circuitry that generates the predetermined pulse sequence, and transmitter 146 can generate signals with frequencies greater than 10 GHz including these pulses. Transmitter 146 can transmit the signals to switch SW.

[0077] Figure 2The millimeter-wave circuit 28 or control circuit 20 can control (switch) the switch SW (e.g., the switch SW may be a single-pole single-throw (SPST) switch) between a first state where terminal 142 is coupled to terminal 144 and a second state where terminal 144 is coupled to terminal 140. The switch SW can be placed in the first state during signal transmission to couple terminal 144 to terminal 142. The switch SW can route a signal from transmitter 146 to phased antenna array 124, and the phased antenna array 124 can transmit the signal as a transmit beam. Figure 2 The control circuit 20 can provide the control signal 122 to the phased antenna array 124 to steer the transmit beam in a desired direction (e.g., each antenna in the phased antenna array 124 can transmit the same signal using the corresponding phase and / or magnitude value identified by the control signal 122).

[0078] After transmitting a signal, switch SW can be placed in the second state to couple terminal 144 to terminal 140. Receiver 148 can wait to receive a reflected version of the transmitted signal from phased antenna array 124. Phased antenna array 124 can receive a reflected version of the transmitted signal reflected from an external object near device 10 (e.g., within line of sight of phased antenna array 124). Switch SW can route the received reflected version of the transmitted signal to receiver 148. If needed, the received version of the transmitted signal can be passed to [other devices] via path 150. Figure 2 The control circuit 20, millimeter-wave circuit 28, and / or control circuit 20 can compare the transmitted signal with a received reflected version of the transmitted signal to identify the range between device 10 and an external object and / or detect the presence of the external object. The switch SW can then be switched back to the first state, and transmitter 146 can transmit another signal to continue performing spatial ranging operations. If needed, phased antenna array 124 can be turned at all angles within its field of view to perform spatial ranging operations. In this way, millimeter-wave circuit 28 can perform spatial ranging operations using a time-division duplex (TDD) scheme (where only one of transmitter 146 and receiver 148 is coupled to phased antenna array 124 at a given time).

[0079] Transmitter 146 and receiver 148 can perform spatial ranging operations by transmitting and receiving pulse sequences with frequencies greater than 10 GHz using range and object detection protocols (e.g., without using bidirectional millimeter-wave communication protocol modulated signals). This greatly simplifies the hardware and space required to implement millimeter-wave circuit 28, compared to the case where millimeter-wave circuit 28 performs bidirectional millimeter-wave communication (e.g., using 5G protocols or IEEE 802.11ad protocols).

[0080] Figure 6The examples are merely illustrative. If desired, transmitter 146 and receiver 148 may be coupled to multiple phased antenna arrays (e.g., via corresponding transmission lines that are coupled to millimeter-wave circuitry 28 via a switch matrix or other switching circuitry with a corresponding number of terminals). If desired, wireless circuitry 34 may include multiple transmitters 146 and receivers 148 coupled to the same phased antenna array 124 or to different phased antenna arrays 124 (e.g., each phased antenna array may have a corresponding transmitter 146 and receiver 148 for performing spatial ranging operations, if desired).

[0081] In practice, relatively large phased antenna arrays may be required to perform two-way millimeter-wave communication operations. For example, a two-dimensional antenna array arranged in rows and columns may be needed to obtain sufficient gain to perform two-way millimeter-wave communication with satisfactory link quality over relatively long distances. However, when performing space ranging operations, millimeter-wave signals are typically transmitted over shorter distances and do not have the same link quality requirements as in two-way millimeter-wave communication. Therefore, phased antenna arrays used for performing space ranging operations, such as phased antenna array 124, can be relatively small arrays, such as one-dimensional arrays comprising a relatively small number of antennas (e.g., two antennas, three antennas, four antennas, five antennas, fewer than nine antennas, etc.).

[0082] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of an exemplary one-dimensional phased antenna array 124 that can be used by millimeter-wave circuit 28 to perform spatial ranging operations. Figure 7 As shown, the phased antenna array 124 includes N millimeter-wave antennas 40M in a single row or column (e.g., first millimeter-wave antenna 40M-1, second millimeter-wave antenna 40M-2, Nth millimeter-wave antenna 40M-N, etc.).

[0083] The phased antenna array 124 may be formed on a dielectric substrate such as substrate 160. Substrate 160 may be, for example, a rigid or flexible printed circuit board or other dielectric substrate. Substrate 160 may include multiple stacked dielectric layers (e.g., a multilayer printed circuit board substrate, such as multilayer glass fiber filled epoxy resin) or may include a single dielectric layer. Substrate 160 may include any desired dielectric material, such as epoxy resin, plastic, ceramic, glass, foam or other materials. The millimeter-wave antenna 40M in the phased antenna array 124 may be mounted on the surface of substrate 160, or may be partially or completely embedded within substrate 160 (e.g., within a single-layer substrate 160 or within a multilayer substrate 160).

[0084] exist Figure 7In the example, the millimeter-wave antenna 40M is shown as a patch antenna having a patch antenna resonant element formed on the antenna ground plane. If desired, the ground plane, the patch antenna resonant element, and optional parasitic elements on the patch antenna resonant element can each be formed on a separate layer of the substrate 160 (e.g., parasitic elements or patch antenna resonant elements can be formed on exposed surfaces of the substrate 160). If desired, each millimeter-wave antenna 40M can be fed using a single feed to cover a single polarization, or multiple feeds can be used to cover multiple polarizations or other polarizations, such as circular or elliptical polarizations. This is merely illustrative; in general, any other desired antenna structure can be used to implement the millimeter-wave antenna 40M on the phased antenna array 124.

[0085] Each millimeter-wave antenna 40M in the phased antenna array 124 can be laterally separated from the adjacent millimeter-wave antenna 40M (e.g., in...). Figure 7 In the VU plane, the distance is 161. For example, the distance 161 can be approximately equal to half the effective operating wavelength of the phased antenna array 124 (e.g., half the free-space operating wavelength after adjusting for contributions from the dielectric material used to form the substrate 160). As an example, the distance 161 can be between 1.0 mm and 4.0 mm (e.g., approximately 2.5 mm for a 60 GHz signal).

[0086] When performing spatial ranging operations, the phased antenna array 124 can transmit radio frequency signals 162 at frequencies greater than 10 GHz (e.g., by...). Figure 6 The transmitter 146 transmits a pulse sequence. The phased antenna array 124 can receive a reflected radio frequency signal 164, which is a version of the transmitted radio frequency signal 162 reflected from an external object located in the line of sight of the phased antenna array 124 (e.g., at a location where the beam of the phased antenna array 124 is turned).

[0087] The phased antenna array 124 and the substrate 160 are sometimes collectively referred to as the antenna module herein. If necessary, Figure 6 The millimeter-wave circuit 28 or other transceiver circuitry may be mounted to the antenna module (e.g., located on the surface of the substrate 160 or embedded within the substrate 160).

[0088] Figure 8 for Figure 7 A side view of a one-dimensional phased antenna array 124 (e.g., where...) Figure 8 The plane of the middle page is located Figure 7 In the UW plane). Figure 8As shown, the phased antenna array 124 can present a radiation pattern associated with a patterned envelope, such as patterned envelope 170. Patterned envelope (curve) 170 can indicate the radio frequency signal 162 emitted by the phased antenna array when it is turned over within the entire field of view of the phased antenna array 124. Figure 7 The gain of the signal beam processed by the phased antenna array 124 and steered in a particular direction at any given time extends only a small portion of the pattern envelope 170.

[0089] The distance between the patterned envelope 170 and the center of the phased antenna array 124 indicates the gain of the phased antenna array at different beam steering angles. As shown by the patterned envelope 170, because the phased antenna array 124 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis... Figure 8 The phased antenna array 124 is a one-dimensional array aligned with the U-axis, so the phased antenna array 124 can exhibit a relatively uniform gain in most of the UW plane above the U-axis (e.g., characterized by the angle C1 between thresholds 171, beyond which the gain of the phased antenna array 124 drops below a predetermined threshold).

[0090] Figure 9 for Figure 7 and Figure 8 A side view of a one-dimensional phased antenna array 124 (e.g., Figure 9 The plane of the page is located in Figure 7 and Figure 8 In the VW plane). Figure 9 As shown, because the phased antenna array 124 has its longitudinal axis perpendicular to... Figure 9 The phased antenna array 124 is a one-dimensional array aligned with the V-axis and W-axis, so the phased antenna array 124 can exhibit a relatively uniform gain in a relatively narrow VW plane above the V-axis (e.g., characterized by the angle C2 between thresholds 173, beyond which the gain of the phased antenna array 124 drops below a predetermined threshold). Figure 8 Angle C1 and Figure 9 Angle C2 can, for example, characterize the field of view of the phased antenna array 124. For example... Figure 9 As shown, since the phased antenna array 124 in this example has a one-dimensional geometry, angle C2 can be smaller than angle C1 (for example, the field of view of the phased antenna array can be relatively narrow when viewed along the longitudinal axis of the phased antenna array 124, but relatively wide when viewed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis).

[0091] Figures 7 to 9The examples are merely illustrative. In general, the patterned envelope 170 can have any shape (e.g., corresponding to a specific arrangement of millimeter-wave antennas 40M in the phased antenna array 124, the material used to form the substrate 160, the operating frequency of the phased antenna array 124, etc.). The phased antenna array 60 may include any desired number of millimeter-wave antennas 40M arranged in any desired pattern.

[0092] Figure 10 A top view of device 10 showing how a non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S and a millimeter-wave antenna 40M (e.g., one or more phased antenna arrays 124 of the millimeter-wave antenna 40M) can be formed within device 10. Figure 10 The plane of the page can be, for example, located in Figure 1 Within the XY plane. Figure 10 In the example, the overlay of display 14 is not shown for clarity.

[0093] like Figure 10 As shown, the slit 104 of the non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S may follow a tortuous path and may have edges defined by different conductive electronic device structures. The slit 104 may have a first set of edges (e.g., outer edges) defined by the conductive housing sidewall 12W and a second set of edges (e.g., inner edges) defined by the conductive structure 200. The conductive structure 200 may, for example, include a display 14 (…). Figure 1 The conductive structure 200 may include various parts of the display 14, such as the metal parts of the frame or components of the display 14, the touch sensor electrodes within the display 14, the parts of the near-field communication antenna embedded within the display 14, the ground plane structure within the display 14, the metal backplate of the display 14, or other conductive structures on or within the display 14. The conductive structure 200 may sometimes be referred to herein as a conductive display structure 200 or a conductive display module structure 200.

[0094] exist Figure 10In the example, the slit 104 follows a tortuous path and has a first segment 210 between the left conductive housing sidewall 12W and the edge of the conductive display structure 200, a second segment 212 between the top conductive housing sidewall 12W and the conductive display structure 200, a third segment 214 between the right conductive housing sidewall 12W and the conductive display structure 200, and a fourth segment 216 between the bottom conductive housing sidewall 12W and the conductive display structure 200. Segments 210 and 214 may extend along parallel longitudinal axes. Segments 212 and 216 may extend between the ends of segments 210 and 214 (e.g., along a parallel longitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of segments 210 and 214). In this way, the slit 104 can be an elongated slit extending between the conductive display structure 200 and the plurality of conductive housing sidewalls 12W (e.g., to maximize the length of the slit 104 so as to cover relatively low frequency bands, such as non-millimeter wave bands, using the non-millimeter wave antenna 40S, wherein the perimeter of the slit 104 is given by the sum of the edge lengths of the slit 104 defined by the conductive housing sidewalls 12W and the conductive display structure 200). The harmonic modes of the slit 104 and / or the tuning circuitry (e.g., adjustable matching circuitry coupled to the antenna feed section 100 or other locations on the non-millimeter wave antenna 40S) can allow the non-millimeter wave antenna 40S to simultaneously cover multiple frequency bands below 10 GHz (e.g., cellular phone bands, wireless LAN bands, and / or GPS bands).

[0095] Figure 10 The examples are merely illustrative. If desired, conductive structures (not shown) may bridge the width W of the slit 104 at one or more locations along the length of the slit 104 to shorten the perimeter of the slit 104 (e.g., to cover the frequency of the tuned non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S). If desired, the conductive structures may be shorted to the conductive housing sidewall 12W and / or the conductive display structure 200.

[0096] The non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S can be fed using an antenna feed section 100 coupled to the width W of the slot 104. Figure 10 In this example, the antenna feed section 100 is coupled to segment 212 of the slot 104. This is merely illustrative; if desired, the feed section 100 may be coupled to segments 210, 214, or 216 of the slot 104. The ground feed terminal 98 of the antenna feed section 100 may be coupled to a given conductive housing sidewall 12W, and the positive feed terminal 96 of the antenna feed section 100 may be coupled to the conductive display structure 200. This is merely illustrative; if desired, the ground feed terminal 98 of the antenna feed section 100 may be coupled to the conductive display structure 200, and the positive feed terminal 96 of the antenna feed section 100 may be coupled to a given conductive housing sidewall 12W.

[0097] The antenna feed section 100 can transmit a non-millimeter-wave frequency below 10 GHz around the perimeter of the slot 104 (e.g., on the conductive housing sidewall 12W and the conductive display structure 200). The antenna current can generate a corresponding radio frequency signal transmitted by the non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S, or can be generated in response to a corresponding radio frequency signal received by the non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S from an external device.

[0098] The slit 104 may have a uniform width W along its length, or it may have different widths along its length. If desired, the width W can be adjusted to fine-tune the bandwidth of the non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S. As an example, the width W may be between 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm. If desired, the slit 104 may have other shapes (e.g., shapes with more than three segments, fewer than three segments, curved edges, etc., extending along the respective longitudinal axis).

[0099] To optimize space consumption within device 10 Figures 5 to 9 One or more phased antenna arrays 124 used for processing millimeter-wave and centimeter-wave communications may be co-located or adjacent to non-millimeter-wave antennas 40S. For example... Figure 10 As shown, one or more phased antenna arrays 124 (e.g., such as...) Figure 7 The one-dimensional phased antenna array 124 of the millimeter-wave antenna 40M shown can be formed within the slit 104 of the non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S (e.g., the first dashed region 204-1 in segment 210 of slit 104, the second dashed region 204-2 in segment 216 of slit 104, the third dashed region 204-3 in segment 214 of slit 104, or the fourth dashed region 204-4 in segment 212 of slit 104), as shown in the dashed region 204.

[0100] For example, electronic device 10 may include a single phased antenna array 124 located in one of regions 204-1, 204-2, 204-3, or 204-4, or may include two or more phased antenna arrays 124 located in two or more of regions 204-1, 204-2, 204-3, and 204-4. If desired, more than one phased antenna array 124 may be located within a given region 204. Implementing the phased antenna array 124 as a one-dimensional array allows the antenna array 124 to be fitted within the width W of the slot 104 (e.g., preventing the millimeter-wave antenna 40M from being blocked by the conductive display structure 200 or the conductive housing sidewall 12W). For example, the longitudinal axis of the phased antenna array 124 may be parallel (e.g., aligned) to the longitudinal axis of the segment of slot 104 in which the phased antenna array is located.

[0101] If needed, one or more phased antenna arrays 124 may be located behind the conductive display structure 200, as shown in the dashed area 220. Generally, the conductive material in the conductive display structure 200 may be opaque to radio frequency signals at millimeter and centimeter wave frequencies. If not carefully managed, the conductive display structure 200 may prevent the phased antenna array 124 mounted behind the conductive display structure 200 in area 220 from transmitting radio frequency signals to the outside of the display 14 of the device 10.

[0102] To allow millimeter-wave signals transmitted by the phased antenna array 124 mounted in region 220 to be transmitted through the display 14, the conductive display structure 200 may include an electromagnetic filter, such as a frequency-selective filter that transmits some radio frequency (e.g., within the filter's passband) electromagnetic signals and blocks other frequencies (e.g., outside the filter's passband) electromagnetic signals. The frequency-selective filter may, for example, be a spatial filter comprising conductive structures arranged in a periodic manner defining the filter's passband (e.g., to allow transmission of electromagnetic signals within the passband while blocking electromagnetic signals outside the passband). When the frequency-selective filter is formed using a single layer of conductive material in the conductive display structure 200, the frequency-selective filter may sometimes be referred to herein as a frequency-selective surface (FSS).

[0103] In this way, the filter can effectively form an antenna window in the conductive display structure 200, thereby forming a display 14 that is transparent at the operating frequency of the phased antenna array 124 (e.g., an antenna window that is transparent to radio frequency signals with frequencies greater than 10 GHz). Therefore, the phased antenna array 124 within region 220 can transmit radio frequency signals through the conductive display structure 200 via the filter. A portion of the lateral surrounding filter of the conductive display structure 200 (e.g., laterally surrounding region 220) can remain opaque to radio frequency signals processed by the phased antenna array 124.

[0104] If desired, dielectric windows, such as dielectric window 202, may be formed within a given conductive housing sidewall 12W. Dielectric window 202 may be formed of plastic, glass, sapphire, ceramic, or any other desired dielectric material. One or more phased antenna arrays 124 may be located on or within the dielectric window 202 within region 218. For example, the phased antenna array 124 may be mounted to the inner surface of the dielectric window 202 or may be embedded within the dielectric window 202. When aligned in this manner, the phased antenna arrays can transmit radio frequency signals at millimeter or centimeter wave frequencies through the dielectric window 202. If desired, dielectric window 202 may be formed within other conductive housing sidewalls 12W. If desired, additional dielectric windows may be formed within other conductive housing sidewalls 12W (e.g., device 10 may include any desired number of dielectric windows within the conductive housing sidewalls 12W).

[0105] Figure 10 The examples shown are merely illustrative. Device 10 may have any desired shape or profile. Generally, one or more one-dimensional phased antenna arrays 124 may be located in Figure 10 Within one or more of regions 204-1, 204-2, 204-3, 204-4, 220, and 218. Forming the phased antenna array 124 at such locations allows the phased antenna array to perform spatial ranging operations by transmitting and receiving RF signals at millimeter-wave frequencies through the front of the device 10 and / or through one or more conductive housing sidewalls 12W of the device 10, while also optimizing space consumption within the device 10 and without sacrificing the RF performance of the non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S. If desired, additional dielectric windows 202 may be formed in one or more other conductive housing sidewalls 12W of the device 10 for corresponding phased antenna arrays 124. For example, forming multiple phased antenna arrays 124 at multiple locations within the device 10 allows for greater spatial coverage around the device 10 to perform spatial ranging operations compared to using only one phased antenna array 124.

[0106] Figure 11 To illustrate how the phased antenna array 124 can be located in different regions, such as Figure 10 Cross-sectional side view of electronic device 10 within regions 220, 204-2, and 218 (e.g., along...) Figure 10 (The direction of arrow 230 is cut off). For example... Figure 11 As shown, the display 14 may include a display module 239 (sometimes referred to herein as display stack 239, display component 239, or effective area 239 of display 14) and a display overlay 248.

[0107] Display module 239 may, for example, form an effective area or portion of display 14 for displaying images and / or receiving touch sensor input. Lateral portions of display 14 that do not include display module 239 (e.g., portions of display 14 formed by display cover layer 248 but without the lower portion of display module 239) may sometimes be referred to herein as ineffective areas or portions of display 14 because such portions of display 14 do not display images or collect touch sensor input.

[0108] The display module 239 may include conductive components for forming part of the non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S (e.g., Figure 10 The conductive components in the conductive display structure 200 (the conductive components in the display module 239) may have a planar shape (e.g., a planar rectangular shape, a planar circular shape, etc.) and may be formed of a metal and / or other conductive material that carries antenna current. These components have a thin planar shape and Figure 11The stacked configuration can, for example, capacitively couple these components to each other, allowing them to operate together at radio frequency to form a Figure 10 The conductive display structure 200 (e.g., thereby effectively / electrically forming a single conductor).

[0109] form Figure 10 The components of the conductive display structure 200 include planar components on one or more display layers (such as a first display layer 240, a second display layer 242, a third display layer 246, or other desired layers) in the display module 239. As an example, display layer 246 may form a touch sensor for display 14, display layer 242 may form a display panel (sometimes referred to as a display, display layer, or pixel array) for display 14, and display layer 240 may form a near-field communication antenna for device 10 and / or other circuitry for supporting near-field communication (e.g., 13.56 MHz). For example, the touch sensor formed by display layer 246 may be a capacitive touch sensor and may be formed from a polyimide substrate or other flexible polymer layer having transparent capacitive touch sensor electrodes (e.g., indium tin oxide electrodes). The display panel formed by display layer 242 may be an organic light-emitting diode display layer or other suitable display layer. The near-field communication antenna formed by display layer 240 may be formed from a flexible layer including a magnetic shielding material (e.g., a ferrite layer or other magnetic shielding layer) and a ring including metal traces. If necessary, a conductive backplate, a metal shielding canister or layer and / or a conductive display frame may be formed under and / or around the display layer 240, and may provide structural support and / or grounding reference for the components of the display module 239.

[0110] For example, the conductive materials in layers 240, 242, and 246, the conductive backplate for display 14, the conductive shielding layer, the conductive shielding canister, and / or the conductive frame for display 14 may be used to form the conductive display structure 200 defining the slot 104 of the non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S. For example, such and / or other conductive materials in display 14 used to form the conductive display structure 200 may be coupled together using conductive traces, vertical conductive interconnects, or other conductive interconnects and / or via capacitive coupling.

[0111] The display cover layer 248 may be formed of an optically transparent dielectric such as glass, sapphire, ceramic, or plastic. The display module 239 may display images (e.g., emit image light) through the display cover layer 248 for user viewing and / or collect touch or force sensor input through the display cover layer 248. If desired, a portion of the display cover layer 248 may be provided with an opaque mask layer (e.g., an ink mask layer) and / or pigment to prevent the user from seeing the interior 258 of the device 10. Other components 256, such as the main logic board, may be located within the interior 258 of the device 10.

[0112] The segment 216 of the slot 104 for the non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S may be defined between the conductive housing sidewall 12W and the conductive display structure 200 within the display module 239, and may have parallel to Figure 11 The longitudinal axis extending from the Y-axis. Slit 104 (e.g., as...) Figure 10 The non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S shown can be used to transmit and receive radio frequency signals in the WLAN and / or WPAN bands of 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz, the cellular telephone band between 1.7 GHz and 2.2 GHz, the satellite navigation band of 1.5 GHz, and / or other desired bands. Additional antennas may also be provided in the device 10 to handle these and / or other bands.

[0113] like Figure 11 As shown, a phased antenna array 124, such as phased antenna array 124-2, can be installed within region 204-2. Region 204-2 can be located within segment 216 of the slot 104 of the non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S. Phased antenna array 124-2 can be, for example, a one-dimensional array (e.g., as shown in the diagram). Figures 7 to 9 As shown), its longitudinal axis is parallel to Figure 11 The Y-axis and the section 216 parallel to the gap 104 (e.g., as shown in the image) Figure 10 The longitudinal axis extends from region 204-2 (shown in the text).

[0114] If needed, the phased antenna array 124-2 can be positioned adjacent to the display cover layer 248 (e.g., separated from the display cover layer 248 by a gap). In this case, the millimeter-wave antenna 40M on the phased antenna array 124-2 can be inserted between the substrate 160 and the display cover layer 248, or the substrate 160 can be inserted between the millimeter-wave antenna 40M on the phased antenna array 124-2 and the display cover layer 248 (e.g., the phased antenna array 124-2 can be positioned relative to the display cover layer 248). Figure 11 (The orientation is flipped as shown).

[0115] In another suitable arrangement, the phased antenna array 124-2 may contact the inner surface of the display cover layer 248 (e.g., other structures may bias or press the phased antenna array 124-2 against the inner surface of the display cover layer 248 or an opaque mask layer on the display cover layer 248, and / or an adhesive may be used to attach the phased antenna array 124-2 to the inner surface of the display cover layer 248 or an opaque mask layer on the display cover layer 248). In this case, the substrate 160 of the phased antenna array 124-2 may be attached to (e.g., in direct contact with) the display cover layer 248 or an opaque mask layer on the display cover layer 248 (e.g., the substrate 160 may be inserted between the millimeter-wave antenna 40M and the display cover layer 248), or the millimeter-wave antenna 40M in the phased antenna array 124-2 may be attached to the display cover layer 248 or an opaque mask layer on the display cover layer 248 (e.g., the millimeter-wave antenna 40M may be inserted between the substrate 160 and the display cover layer 248). If necessary, substrate 160 can be omitted, and the millimeter-wave antenna 40M in phased antenna array 124-2 can be directly mounted (e.g., printed onto) display cover layer 248 (e.g., display cover layer 248 can be used as a substrate for millimeter-wave antenna 40M in phased antenna array 124-2).

[0116] In another suitable arrangement, the phased antenna array 124-2 may be embedded (e.g., molded within) the display cover layer 248, as shown in the dashed region 252. In this case, the millimeter-wave antenna 40M and substrate 160 of the phased antenna array 124-2 may be embedded within region 252 of the display cover layer 248, or the millimeter-wave antenna 40M may be embedded within region 252 of the display cover layer 248 without the substrate 160 (e.g., the display cover layer 248 may serve as the substrate for the millimeter-wave antenna 40M in the phased antenna array 124-2). Combinations of these arrangements may be used if desired. For example, different portions of the phased antenna array 124-2 may be in direct contact with the surface of the display cover layer 248, separated from the display cover layer 248 by gaps, and / or embedded within the display cover layer 248.

[0117] The phased antenna array 124-2 can transmit radio frequency signals 262 through the display overlay 248 at millimeter or centimeter wave frequencies to perform spatial ranging operations. The phased antenna array 124-2 can also receive radio frequency signals 264 through the display overlay 248 at millimeter or centimeter wave frequencies, said radio frequency signals being reflected versions of the transmitted radio frequency signals 262 reflected from external objects within the field of view of the phased antenna array 124-2. For example, millimeter wave circuitry 28 and / or control circuitry 20 (… Figure 2 Radio frequency signals 262 and 264 can be used to detect the range of external objects through the display overlay 248.

[0118] like Figure 11 As shown, a dielectric window 202 may be formed in the conductive housing sidewall 12W. The dielectric window 202 may extend through part or all of the height of the conductive housing sidewall 12W (e.g., in...). Figure 11 (in the direction of the Z-axis). A phased antenna array 124, such as phased antenna array 124-3, may be installed within region 218. Phased antenna array 124-2 may, for example, be a one-dimensional array (e.g., as...). Figures 7 to 9 As shown), its longitudinal axis is parallel to Figure 11 The Y-axis and parallel to such Figure 10 The longitudinal axis of region 218 is shown. The dielectric window 202 may be covered with an opaque mask layer such as an ink layer, which may be colored, or may be formed of an optically opaque dielectric material such as ceramic, so that the interior 258 of device 10 is not visible.

[0119] If needed, the phased antenna array 124-3 can be positioned adjacent to the dielectric window 202 (e.g., separated from the dielectric window 202 by a gap). In this case, the millimeter-wave antenna 40M on the phased antenna array 124-3 can be inserted between the substrate 160 and the dielectric window 202, or the substrate 160 can be inserted between the millimeter-wave antenna 40M on the phased antenna array 124-3 and the dielectric window 202 (e.g., the phased antenna array 124-3 can be positioned relative to the dielectric window 202). Figure 11 (The orientation is flipped as shown).

[0120] In another suitable arrangement, the phased antenna array 124-3 may contact the inner surface of the dielectric window 202 (e.g., other configurations may bias or press the phased antenna array 124-3 onto the inner surface of the dielectric window 202 or onto an opaque mask layer on the dielectric window 202, and / or an adhesive may be used to attach the phased antenna array 124-3 to the dielectric window 202 or onto the inner surface of an opaque mask layer on the dielectric window 202). In this configuration, the substrate 160 of the phased antenna array 124-3 may be attached (e.g., in direct contact) to the dielectric window 202 or an opaque mask layer on the dielectric window 202 (e.g., the substrate 160 may be inserted between the millimeter-wave antenna 40M of the phased antenna array 124-3 and the dielectric window 202), or the millimeter-wave antenna 40M may be attached to the dielectric window 202 or an opaque mask layer on the dielectric window 202 (e.g., the millimeter-wave antenna 40M of the phased antenna array 124-3 may be inserted between the substrate 160 and the display overlay 248). If desired, the substrate 160 may be omitted, and the millimeter-wave antenna 40M of the phased antenna array 124-3 may be directly mounted (e.g., printed onto) the dielectric window 202 (e.g., the dielectric window 202 may be used as the substrate for the millimeter-wave antenna 40M in the phased antenna array 124-3).

[0121] In another suitable arrangement, the phased antenna array 124-3 may be embedded (e.g., molded within) a dielectric window 202, as shown in the dashed region 254. In this case, the millimeter-wave antenna 40M and the substrate 160 of the phased antenna array 124-3 may be embedded within region 254 of the dielectric window 202, or the millimeter-wave antenna 40M may be embedded within region 254 of the dielectric window 202 without the substrate 160 (e.g., the dielectric window 202 may serve as the substrate for the millimeter-wave antenna 40M in the phased antenna array 124-3). Combinations of these arrangements may be used if desired. For example, different portions of the phased antenna array 124-3 may be in direct contact with the surface of the dielectric window 202, separated from the dielectric window 202 by gaps, and / or embedded within the dielectric window 202.

[0122] The phased antenna array 124-3 can transmit radio frequency signals 266 through dielectric window 202 at millimeter or centimeter wave frequencies to perform spatial ranging operations. The phased antenna array 124-3 can also receive radio frequency signals 266 through dielectric window 202 at millimeter or centimeter wave frequencies, said radio frequency signals being reflected versions of the transmitted radio frequency signals 266 reflected from external objects within the field of view of the phased antenna array 124-3. For example, millimeter wave circuit 28 and / or control circuit 20 (… Figure 2 The range of an external object can be detected through the dielectric window 202 using radio frequency signals 266 and 268.

[0123] like Figure 11 As shown, a phased antenna array 124, such as phased antenna array 124-1, can be mounted within region 220 behind the display module 239. Phased antenna array 124-1 can be, for example, a one-dimensional array (e.g., as shown in the diagram). Figures 7 to 9 As shown), its longitudinal axis is parallel to Figure 11 The Y-axis extension.

[0124] If needed, the phased antenna array 124-1 can be positioned adjacent to the bottom surface of the display module 239 (e.g., separated from the display module 239 by a gap). In this case, the millimeter-wave antenna 40M on the phased antenna array 124-1 can be inserted between the substrate 160 and the display module 239, or the substrate 160 can be inserted between the millimeter-wave antenna 40M on the phased antenna array 124-1 and the display module 239 (e.g., the phased antenna array 124-1 can be positioned relative to the bottom surface of the display module 239). Figure 11 (The orientation is flipped as shown).

[0125] In another suitable arrangement, the phased antenna array 124-1 may contact the bottom surface of the display module 239 (e.g., other structures may bias or press the phased antenna array 124-1 onto the bottom surface of the display module 239, and / or an adhesive may be used to attach the phased antenna array 124-1 to the bottom surface of the display module 239). In this case, the substrate 160 of the phased antenna array 124-1 may be attached to (e.g., in direct contact with) the display module 239 (e.g., the substrate 160 may be inserted between the millimeter-wave antenna 40M of the phased antenna array 124-1 and the display module 239), or the millimeter-wave antenna 40M may be attached to the display module 239 (e.g., the millimeter-wave antenna 40M of the phased antenna array 124-1 may be inserted between the substrate 160 and the display module 239). If necessary, substrate 160 can be omitted, and the millimeter-wave antenna 40M of phased antenna array 124-1 can be directly mounted (e.g., printed onto) the dielectric portion of display module 239 (e.g., these portions of display module 239 can be used as substrates for millimeter-wave antenna 40M in phased antenna array 124-1).

[0126] If not handled carefully, the conductive material in display module 239 can block the transmission of radio frequency signals at millimeter and centimeter wave frequencies to / from phased antenna array 124-1. To allow radio frequency signals processed by phased antenna array 124-1 to be transmitted through display module 239, filters such as frequency selective filters 250 may be formed within region 220 of display module 239 (e.g., on one or more display layers of display module 239, such as display layers 240, 242, 246, or other layers).

[0127] The frequency selective filter 250 can transmit some radio frequency (e.g., frequencies within the filter's passband) electromagnetic signals and block other frequencies (e.g., frequencies outside the filter's passband) electromagnetic signals. The frequency selective filter 250 can, for example, be a spatial filter including conductive structures (e.g., conductive patches) separated by dielectric gaps and arranged periodically to define the filter's passband. When a frequency selective filter is formed using a single layer of conductive material in the display module 239, the frequency selective filter may sometimes be referred to herein as a frequency selective surface (FSS).

[0128] If needed, a filter can be formed using multiple conductive layers in display module 239 (e.g., multiple vertically stacked frequency-selective surfaces, such as multiple vertically stacked arrays of conductive patches separated by slits). In the case where filter 250 is formed by multiple vertically stacked arrays of conductive patches (separated by slits), the slits can be narrow enough, if desired, that they are not visible to a user of device 10 when viewing display 14 at a typical viewing distance (e.g., the slits can have a width of 200 micrometers or less).

[0129] Filter 250 can be formed within a conductive layer of display module 239 that would otherwise block radio frequency signals processed by phased antenna array 124-1. The passband of filter 250 can be aligned with the operating frequency band of phased antenna array 124-1 (e.g., between 10 GHz and 300 GHz), such that filter 250 forms a transparent window in display module 239 for phased antenna array 124-1. In this way, phased antenna array 124-1 can transmit radio frequency signals 258 via filter 250 through display module 239 at millimeter or centimeter wave frequencies to perform spatial ranging operations. Phased antenna array 124-1 can receive radio frequency signals 260 via filter 250 at millimeter or centimeter wave frequencies, which are reflected versions of the transmitted radio frequency signals 258 reflected from external objects within the field of view of phased antenna array 124-1. For example, millimeter wave circuit 28 and / or control circuit 20 ( Figure 2 The range of external objects can be detected using radio frequency signals 258 and 260 via display module 239 and display overlay 248.

[0130] Figure 11 The examples are merely illustrative. Device 10 may have any desired shape or profile. Generally, the phased antenna array 124 may be omitted in regions 218, 204-2, and 220, and may be omitted elsewhere on device 10 (e.g., in...). Figure 10 A phased antenna array 124 is formed within regions 204-1, 204-4, or 204-3, or elsewhere in device 10. The phased antenna array 124 can be... Figure 11 The phased antenna arrays are formed at locations in each of regions 218, 204-2, and 220 (e.g., to allow greater coverage at all angles around the device 10, such as through the sidewalls of the device 10 and through the front of the device 10), or one or more of the phased antenna arrays 124-1, 124-2, and 124-3 may be omitted (e.g., to minimize the space consumption within the device 10 caused by the phased antenna arrays).

[0131] Figure 12 This is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps that can be executed by electronic device 10 to perform spatial ranging operations using radio frequency signals with frequencies greater than 10 GHz transmitted by one or more phased antenna arrays 124.

[0132] like Figure 12 As shown, at optional step 300, device 10 can be used Figure 2The sensors in the input-output device 24 begin collecting sensor data. For example, the device 10 may begin using light sensors (e.g., infrared light sensors, visible light sensors, etc.) that collect light sensor data (e.g., visible and / or infrared image data, ambient light sensor data, etc.), motion sensors (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes, inertial sensors, etc.) that collect motion sensor data (e.g., information about how the device 10 physically moves over time), capacitive sensors that collect capacitive sensor data, proximity sensors that collect proximity sensor data, magnetic sensors that collect magnetic sensor data, force sensors (e.g., force sensors coupled to the display to detect pressure applied to the display), etc.

[0133] At step 302, the control circuit 20 on device 10 ( Figure 2 Millimeter and / or centimeter wave signals can be used to identify triggers to initiate spatial ranging operations. For example, triggers may be software events or events recognized by a software application or operating system running on control circuitry 20, user input (e.g., when a user uses a software tool running on control circuitry 20 to activate the spatial ranging function of device 10), etc.

[0134] Once the trigger is identified (detected), at step 304, the millimeter-wave circuit 28 ( Figure 6 This can then begin through one or more phased antenna arrays 124 (e.g., located at different locations on device 10, such as...). Figure 10 One or more phased antenna arrays 124 (within areas 204-1, 204-2, 204-3, 204-4, 220 and / or 218 or other locations) transmit radio frequency signals at frequencies greater than 10 GHz. If necessary, millimeter-wave circuit 28 can generate the radio frequency signals as a predetermined pulse sequence according to the RADAR protocol or other range and object detection protocols. Although the radio frequency signals transmitted by millimeter-wave circuit 28 may include millimeter-wave and centimeter-wave signals, the radio frequency signals transmitted by millimeter-wave circuit 28 are sometimes referred to herein as transmitted millimeter-wave ranging signals.

[0135] At step 306, millimeter-wave circuit 28 ( Figure 6 One or more phased antenna arrays 124 that transmit the millimeter-wave ranging signal may be used (e.g., during step 304) to receive a reflected version of the transmitted millimeter-wave ranging signal. The reflected version of the transmitted millimeter-wave ranging signal may be reflected, for example, from an external object within the field of view of one or more phased antenna arrays 124.

[0136] At step 308, the millimeter-wave circuit 28 and / or the control circuit 20 ( Figure 2The control circuit 20 can process the transmitted millimeter-wave ranging signal and its reflected version to generate processed data. For example, the control circuit 20 can identify a known pulse sequence from the transmitted millimeter-wave ranging signal in the reflected version of the transmitted millimeter-wave ranging signal. The control circuit 20 can compare timing information between the transmitted and received millimeter-wave ranging signals to generate range data associated with an external object. For example, the range data can indicate the range between device 10 and an external object (e.g., an external object that reflects the transmitted millimeter-wave ranging signal back to device 10). In another suitable arrangement, the control circuit 20 can identify positional information indicating the relative position of device 10 within its environment based on the transmitted and received reflected versions of the transmitted millimeter-wave ranging signal. In yet another suitable arrangement, the control circuit 20 can perform external object detection or tracking to identify the presence of an external object near device 10 or track the position of that external object. If needed, control circuitry 20 can use reflected ranging signals transmitted and received over time to track the distance between device 10 and numerous external objects around device 10 (e.g., to track the position of device 10 relative to its surrounding environment over time). These examples are merely illustrative; in general, control circuitry 20 can generate any desired processed data based on the transmitted millimeter-wave ranging signal and the received reflected version of the transmitted millimeter-wave ranging signal.

[0137] At step 310, control circuitry 20 may determine (detect) whether a predetermined spatial event has occurred based on processed data (e.g., generated during processing step 308) and / or on collected sensor data (e.g., initiated during processing step 300). For example, a predetermined spatial event may be when an external object approaches device 10 within a predetermined distance, when an external object approaches device 10 at excessive speed, when device 10 enters or leaves a predetermined spatial position relative to its surroundings, when a user of device 10 performs a predetermined physical action, when device 10 moves beyond a predetermined distance from an external object, or any other desired event associated with the movement or position of device 10.

[0138] Where sensor data is also used in processing step 310, the sensor data can be used to filter the processed data collected in step 308 to help identify predetermined spatial events when needed. In one example, a predetermined spatial event could be a fall event that occurs when a user wearing device 10 falls. Sensor data may include orientation sensor data, proximity sensor data, and / or accelerometer data, which can be used to distinguish a user fall from other situations where the user's wrist merely approaches an external object (such as when the user brings their arm close to a wall or other object). In another example, a predetermined spatial event could be when a user wearing device 10 leaves a predefined spatial area, and sensor data can be used to distinguish this event from when the user merely moves their wrist while wearing device 10. In yet another example, a predetermined spatial event could be when a specific object is detected within the field of view of one or more phased antenna arrays 124. These examples are merely illustrative; in general, any desired combination of processed data and sensor data can be used to identify any desired spatial event associated with the positioning of device 10 relative to an external object.

[0139] If no predetermined spatial event is detected during step 310, the process may loop back to step 302, as shown in path 314. Device 10 may continue performing spatial ranging operations until an event is detected or until control circuit 20 controls device 10 to stop performing spatial ranging operations. If a predetermined spatial event is detected, the process may proceed to step 312, as shown in path 316.

[0140] At step 312, device 10 may take appropriate action in response to detecting a predetermined spatial event. For example, device 10 may issue an alarm to a user (e.g., an audio alarm using a speaker, a haptic alarm using a vibrator or other haptic engine, and / or a visual alarm using a display 14 or other light-emitting component on device 10), issue an alarm to another person or entity (e.g., by sending a text message, email message, or other wireless message or notification to another electronic device outside device 10), or perform any other desired action. For example, such an alarm may be used to warn a user that an external object, such as a wall or other obstacle, is approaching the user (e.g., for a visually impaired user) or to alert the user to other information.

[0141] Figure 12The examples are merely illustrative. If desired, step 300 may be performed simultaneously with, before, or after steps 302, 304, 306, or 308. If desired, electronic device 10 may use one or more phased antenna arrays 124 and radio frequency signal beams oriented (steered) in one or more directions to perform steps 304-308. For example, if desired, phased antenna array 124 may perform beam control operations to scan the beam within multiple angles (e.g., all possible angles within the field of view of the phased antenna array), and may transmit and receive millimeter-wave ranging signals within these angles to perform spatial ranging operations (e.g., to determine range information of external objects located on all sides of device 10). Other ranging operations may be performed if desired.

[0142] Figure 13 This is a view illustrating how device 10 uses millimeter-wave ranging signals to identify the range between device 10 and external objects and to issue an alarm in response to predetermined spatial events. (See image.) Figure 13 As shown, initially, device 10 can be located at a first distance from external object 320. Device 10 can use one or more phased antenna arrays to transmit millimeter-wave ranging signals 162. Device 10 can receive a reflected version 164 of the transmitted signal 162 reflected from external object 320. Device 10 can process signals 162 and 164 to identify the distance (range) between device 10 and external object 320.

[0143] Later, device 10 can move closer to external object 320, as indicated by arrow 322. Device 10 can re-transmit millimeter-wave ranging signal 162 and receive a reflected version 164 of the transmitted signal 162 reflected from external object 320. Device 10 can process signals 162 and 164 to identify a new range between device 10 and external object 320. Device 10 can continuously process this range information to determine whether a predetermined spatial event has occurred (e.g., during processing...). Figure 12 (In step 310). For example, device 10 may compare the range with a predetermined minimum threshold range. In response to determining that an external object 320 has moved closer to device 10 than the predetermined minimum threshold range, device 10 may issue an alarm 324.

[0144] Alarm 324 may include, for example, an audio or tactile warning to the user of device 10 (e.g., a user wearing device 10 on their wrist) to alert the user that object 320 has approached. If necessary, other sensor data may be combined with range data to determine whether alarm 324 should be issued. In another suitable arrangement, alarm 324 may be a radio frequency signal sent to an external device (e.g., using a WLAN, WPAN, or cellular phone link and a non-millimeter-wave antenna 40S) to notify the external device that object 320 has passed within a predetermined minimum threshold range. Figure 13The example is merely illustrative; generally, millimeter-wave ranging signal 162 can be used to monitor any desired spatial event. In this way, device 10 can continuously track the distance between device 10 and its surrounding environment using millimeter-wave signals emitted by one or more phased antenna arrays 124, which, along with other non-millimeter-wave antennas such as... Figure 10 The antennas are positioned together or adjacent to each other for 40 seconds, thereby optimizing the space consumption within the device 10.

[0145] According to one embodiment, an electronic device is provided, comprising: a housing having a conductive outer shell wall; a display cover layer; a display module overlapping the display cover layer and including a conductive display structure; an antenna feed portion of an antenna having a first feed terminal coupled to the conductive display structure and a second feed terminal coupled to the conductive outer shell wall, the conductive display structure and the conductive outer shell wall defining the edge of a slot element of the antenna; and a phased antenna array mounted within the housing, the antenna being configured to transmit a first radio frequency signal at a first frequency below 10 GHz, and the phased antenna array being configured to transmit a second radio frequency signal at a second frequency between 10 GHz and 300 GHz.

[0146] According to another embodiment, the phased antenna array is mounted within the slotted elements of the antenna and is configured to transmit a second radio frequency signal through the display overlay.

[0147] According to another implementation, the phased antenna array is at least partially embedded within the display overlay.

[0148] According to another embodiment, a dielectric window is formed in a given conductive outer casing wall, and a phased antenna array is configured to transmit a second radio frequency signal through the dielectric window.

[0149] According to another embodiment, the electronic device includes an additional phased antenna array mounted within a housing, the additional phased antenna array being installed within a slotted element of the antenna.

[0150] According to another embodiment, the electronic device includes a spatial filter in a conductive display structure having a passband including a second frequency, and a phased antenna array is configured to transmit a second radio frequency signal via the spatial filter through the display module and through the display overlay.

[0151] According to another embodiment, a dielectric window is formed in a given conductive housing wall, and the electronic device further includes an additional phased antenna array mounted within the housing, the additional phased antenna array being configured to transmit a third radio frequency signal through the dielectric window at a third frequency between 10 GHz and 300 GHz.

[0152] According to another embodiment, the electronic device includes: a radio frequency transceiver coupled to an antenna feed section; a transmitter and a receiver coupled to a phased antenna array, the transmitter being configured to transmit a second radio frequency signal and the receiver being configured to receive a reflected version of the second radio frequency signal received by the phased antenna array; and a control circuit configured to detect the range of external objects within the field of view of the phased antenna array relative to the electronic device based on the transmitted second radio frequency signal and the reflected version of the received second radio frequency signal.

[0153] According to another embodiment, the electronic device includes an accelerometer configured to generate motion data indicating the movement of the electronic device, and a control circuit configured to detect a predetermined spatial event based on the detected range and motion data.

[0154] According to another embodiment, the electronic device includes a switch having a first terminal coupled to a transmitter, a second terminal coupled to a receiver, and a third terminal coupled to a phased antenna array, the switch being configured to couple one of the selected transmitter and receiver to the phased antenna array at a given time.

[0155] According to one embodiment, a watch is provided, comprising: a housing configured to receive a wristband; a wireless circuit in the housing configured to generate radio frequency signals at frequencies between 10 GHz and 300 GHz; and a phased antenna array in the housing coupled to the wireless circuit and configured to transmit radio frequency signals.

[0156] According to another implementation, the watch includes a touchscreen mounted on the housing.

[0157] According to another embodiment, the housing includes a conductive housing sidewall, the touchscreen includes a display module and a display overlay covering the display module, and the display module is configured to display an image through the display overlay, and a phased antenna array is mounted between the conductive housing sidewall and the display module and is configured to transmit radio frequency signals through the display overlay.

[0158] According to another embodiment, the watch includes a non-millimeter-wave antenna, and conductive structures in the conductive housing sidewall and display module define the edge of a slit in the non-millimeter-wave antenna.

[0159] According to another embodiment, the watch includes a radio frequency transceiver in the casing coupled to a non-millimeter-wave antenna, and the radio frequency transceiver is configured to generate an additional radio frequency signal at an additional frequency below 10 GHz, and the non-millimeter-wave antenna is configured to transmit the additional radio frequency signal.

[0160] According to another embodiment, the watch includes a control circuit in the casing coupled to a wireless circuit, which is configured to receive a reflected version of an transmitted radio frequency signal reflected from an external object and received by a phased antenna array, and the control circuit is configured to identify the range between the electronic device and the external object based on the transmitted radio frequency signal and the reflected version of the transmitted radio frequency signal.

[0161] According to another implementation, the phased antenna array includes a one-dimensional antenna array.

[0162] According to one embodiment, a watch is provided, comprising: a conductive housing wall; a display mounted to the conductive housing wall; a phased-array antenna configured to transmit a radio frequency signal and receive a reflected version of the transmitted radio frequency signal; and control circuitry coupled to the phased-array antenna array and configured to perform spatial ranging operations on objects outside the watch based on the radio frequency signal transmitted by the phased-array antenna array and the reflected version of the transmitted radio frequency signal received by the phased-array antenna array.

[0163] According to another embodiment, the phased antenna array is configured to transmit radio frequency signals at a first frequency, the electronic device includes an antenna having a slit element defined between at least a conductive housing wall and a conductive structure in a display, the antenna is configured to transmit additional radio frequency signals at a second frequency different from the first frequency, and the phased antenna array is mounted within the slit element of the antenna.

[0164] According to another implementation, the first frequency is between 10 GHz and 300 GHz, and the second frequency is between 600 MHz and 10 GHz.

[0165] The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can be made to the described implementation scheme. The aforementioned implementation scheme can be implemented independently or in any combination.

Claims

1. A watch, comprising: The outer casing is configured to receive the wristband. A display is mounted to the housing and has a conductive display structure, wherein the conductive display structure is separated from a portion of the housing by a gap; A wireless circuit, located within the housing, is configured to generate radio frequency signals between 10 GHz and 300 GHz. as well as A phased antenna array, the phased antenna array being housed within the housing, the phased antenna array being coupled to the wireless circuit and configured to transmit the radio frequency signal, wherein the phased antenna array is disposed within the slot.

2. The watch of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touchscreen display.

3. The watch of claim 1, wherein the portion of the housing includes a conductive housing sidewall, the display includes a display module and a display cover layer covering the display module, and the display module is configured to display an image through the display cover layer, the phased array antenna is mounted between the conductive housing sidewall and the display module, and is configured to transmit the radio frequency signal through the display cover layer.

4. The watch according to claim 3, further comprising: A non-millimeter-wave antenna, which is formed by the slot.

5. The watch according to claim 4, further comprising: A radio frequency transceiver is provided in the housing and coupled to the non-millimeter-wave antenna, wherein the radio frequency transceiver is configured to generate an additional radio frequency signal at a frequency below 10 GHz, and the non-millimeter-wave antenna is configured to transmit the additional radio frequency signal.

6. The watch according to claim 1, further comprising: A control circuit, located within the housing and coupled to the wireless circuit, wherein the wireless circuit is configured to receive a reflected version of an transmitted radio frequency signal reflected from an external object and received by the phased antenna array, and the control circuit is configured to identify the range between the watch and the external object based on the transmitted radio frequency signal and the reflected version of the transmitted radio frequency signal.

7. The watch according to claim 6, wherein the phased array antenna array comprises a one-dimensional antenna array.

8. The watch according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of the phased antenna array is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the slot.

9. The watch of claim 1, wherein the portion of the housing includes a conductive housing wall, a dielectric window is formed in the conductive housing wall, and the phased array antenna is configured to transmit the radio frequency signal through the dielectric window.

10. The watch according to claim 9, further comprising: An additional phased antenna array is installed within the slot.

11. The watch according to claim 1, further comprising: Additional phased antenna array; as well as The conductive display structure includes a spatial filter having a passband that includes the frequency, and the additional phased antenna array is configured to transmit additional radio frequency signals at the frequency through the spatial filter in the conductive display structure.

12. The watch of claim 1, wherein the portion of the housing includes a conductive housing wall, and a dielectric window is formed in the conductive housing wall, the watch further comprising: An additional phased antenna array is mounted within the housing and configured to transmit additional radio frequency signals through the dielectric window at additional frequencies between 10 GHz and 300 GHz.

13. An electronic device, comprising: An outer casing having conductive outer casing sidewalls and a rear outer casing wall; A display having a conductive display structure and being mounted to the sidewall of the conductive housing, the display and the rear housing wall forming opposing surfaces of the electronic device; An antenna, formed by an antenna element defined by the conductive display structure and the sidewall of the conductive housing; A phased antenna array, the phased antenna array being mounted within a dielectric window on the sidewall of the conductive housing, wherein the antenna is configured to transmit a first radio frequency signal at a first frequency below 10 GHz, and the phased antenna array is configured to transmit a second radio frequency signal at a second frequency between 10 GHz and 300 GHz.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the electronic device is a watch, and the electronic device further comprises: A transmitter and a receiver coupled to the phased antenna array, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the second radio frequency signal, and the receiver is configured to receive a reflected version of the second radio frequency signal received by the phased antenna array; as well as A switch having a first terminal coupled to the transmitter, a second terminal coupled to the receiver, and a third terminal coupled to the phased antenna array, wherein the switch is configured to couple one of the selected transmitter and the receiver to the phased antenna array at a given time.

15. An electronic device comprising: The housing has conductive housing sidewalls; A display, mounted to the housing, has a conductive display structure and a display cover layer overlapping the conductive display structure, wherein the conductive display structure is separated from the sidewall of the conductive housing by gaps. A phased antenna array configured to transmit radio frequency signals through the display overlay, wherein the phased antenna array is disposed within the slit; as well as A wireless circuit, which is located within the housing and coupled to the phased antenna array.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the phased antenna array is configured to transmit the radio frequency signal at a frequency greater than 10 GHz.

17. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the conductive display structure and the conductive housing sidewall define an antenna.

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